Sprocket-chain.



PATENTBD JAN. 1, 1907. G. c. HORST. i sPRocKET CHAIN.

APPLICATION I ILED JAI. 4, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE CONRAD HORST, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

sPRocKET-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

y T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE CONRADA HORST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprocket- Chains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom anying drawings.

T 's invention relates to improvements in chain links, having for its purpose to strengthen them, make them more durable,

and prevent their deteriorating under the wear and strains toV which they are subjected when in use.

Figure l is a top plan view,- partially in section, of a sufficient portion of a chain to illustrate my invention. Fig. '2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a lan view, and Fig. 4 'is a side view, of one of t e links detached. Fig. 5 is a view of a sprocket-wheel with a portion of chain partiallyin section shown in position thereon. Fig. 6 is a section on the linev of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is' a perspective view of the pintle-bushing detached. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the external wear-plate detached.

In the drawings, for the purpose of illustrationl have shown my improvements as applied to a chain in which the links are counterparts one of the other and each of which is approximately U-shape'd-that is, has a cross-bar at one end from which there extend two side bars which are separated at their ends opposite to the cross-bars but it will be understood that the features of invention are not limited to links of this precise form, as

' they can be applied in chains of modified character.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates one of the links of the chain, and B the adjacent one. I thus designate jthem differently merely for convenience in the description and not because of diHerence of structure, and therefore the parts of but one need be referred to in detail. Each has a cross-bar C and the two side bars D D. As shown, these are formed integral with each other of cast metal. The side bars are enlarged at their ends, as shown at E E, to provide sufli-` cient metal to insure strength, and these separated ends are formed with pintle-apertures e e, one or both apertures having a lateral slot or groove, as shown at e.

F indicates the pintle, which forms one of y the elements for articulately connecting each link to the next.` This pintle has the cylindrical journal part f, the neck parts f', a fin or web f 2, a head f 3, and means at f 4-suchas a rivet-head, a Cotter-pin, a nut, or the likefor preventing the pintle from displacement. That end of the next link which has the crossbar fits between the ends D D.

The cross-bar C is a tube having a central aperture c of a diameter larger than that of the pintle F. Into this aperture is fitted a bushing or' wearing tube G.

The parts C and D of each link are preferably formed of cast metal, which for good results can be malleableized. The bushingtubel or -wearing-sleeve G is of steel of such consistency as to reduce the wear and prolong the'operativelife of the sleeve. The pintle being locked against rotation in the link A, the motions of articulation consist of rocking or vibrations of the link B around the pintle, and an extended'wearing-surface is provided, as the pintles cannot rotate in the side bars of the link A, but must rock in'the steel sleeve or tube.

H indicates a plate, block, or suitablyshaped body of steel secured to the cross-bar C and so arranged as to take the wear and friction experienced by the link as it passes around the driven sprocket-wheel or around the driven wheel or idler. As shown, this external wearing-body of steel is applied by forming an aperture d in one or each of the side bars at points adjacent to the cross-bars. The steel wearing-piece is convex on its exterior periphery and is preferably concave on its inner surface, though this contour can be varied. This part II is put in place by driving it through one of the apertures d and causing it to be seated snugly in the recess C', which is formed in the lower part of the tubular cross-bar. Preferably the edges of the steel part H are beveled, as shown, so as to iit into correspondingly-beveledrecesses atCZ. When the steel has been put in place,

its exterior surface forms substantially a continuation of thel cylindrical surface of the cross-bar C, so that both the cast-iron and -the steel bodies are substantially concentric ICO The malleable iron is rapidly worn, as is well-known, when it comes in contact with the wheels, and chain-links are soon impaired as a result of the rubbing and motions that are experienced by the links moving around the teeth of the wheel. Thisl is very largely overcome by links constructed in theway illustrated and described.

What I claim isl 1. A chain-link having a cross-bar with an axial aperture and a recess in its periphery,

`two side bars having apertures arranged to register with the recess in said cross-bar and a wearing-plate seated in said recess and having its ends extending into the apertures in the side bars.

2.` A chain-link having two side bars and a l cross-bar, the two side bars having perforaand its concave surface adjacent to the pe-i riphery of the end bar, and a bushing loosely mounted in saidv end bar.

' 4. A chain comprising a series of counterpart links,4 each link being formed with two side bars and an integral cross-bar, the crossbar having lan axial passage-way therethrough and the side bars having at theirfree ends passage-ways therethrough adapted to register with the axial aperture in the end bar of the adjacent link, the said side bars having curvilinear slots therethrough adjacent to the periphery of the cross-bar, the concaveconvex Wearinglate having vits ends inserted in said s ots and its inner surface adapted to bear against the adjacent crossbar, the cylindrical bushing loosely mounted in said axial passage-way in the cross-bar, and the pintle extending through the said bushing and adapted to connect the said cross-bar to the side bars of the adjacent link.

In testimony whereof I. affix my signature in-presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE CONRAD HORST.

Witnesses W. S. CAUGHEY, R. A. COOKE. 

